BJTC PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME

SUPPORTED BY

Applications for 2025 are now closed

 
The BJTC’s Placement Assistance Scheme (PAS) is available to students from BJTC-accredited courses who would most benefit from a one-off bursary to help them take up industry placements.

Students meeting our social diversity criteria can apply for a £200 bursary which, if approved, will be paid out once the placement has been confirmed.

The Scheme is now closed for the 2024-2025 academic year.

"We're supporting the BJTC to help the next generation of broadcast journalists gain valuable work experience and strengthen their digital skills," - Matt Cooke, the Head of Partnerships & Training at Google News Lab.

"We're supporting the BJTC to help the next generation of broadcast journalists gain valuable work experience and strengthen their digital skills," - Matt Cooke, the Head of Partnerships & Training at Google News Lab.

.
"Having that funding meant I could pursue two dream work experiences and internships that I wouldn't have otherwise. The funding really changes people's courses and outlooks for the better." 

Caitlin - MA Multimedia Journalism student at Glasgow Caledonian University

.
"It’s a great scheme which allows you to take part in the placements you want to, for the valuable experience, without worrying about the travel expenses."

Katie - Multimedia Journalism student at Solent University

.
"I thought it was amazing, I really needed help with my rent and the BJTC Placement Assistance Scheme really helped me. I think it's a great thing to do for those students from backgrounds where their parents can't just help them and they need to work for everything." 

Ananda - Journalism student at London South Bank University

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The BJTC recognises the importance of industry placements in the career development of journalists, and that’s why it’s an essential element of any BJTC-accredited course.

But we also recognise that such placements can create a financial burden for some students, and we don’t want a lack of funds to hold them back from taking up life-changing career opportunities

With recent figures suggesting that only 11 per cent of journalists are from working-class backgrounds, we want to support as many BJTC students as we can to embrace those crucial placements. There should be no limits on their ambition.

"I’m delighted to be part of this process, which is helping to address one of the obstacles to inclusion in the industry. As a panel we will be making decisions on funding, but also reflecting on the process to ensure that it’s effective and fair, as well as evaluating the impact of the scheme."
Diane Kemp
Panel Chair - BJTC Placement Assistance Scheme and Professor of Broadcast Journalism at the Birmingham School of Media, Birmingham City University

"Diversity in our newsrooms is a top priority for us. We want to ensure that a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds are represented and that journalism is accessible as a profession to everyone,” - Katie Lloyd, Development Director and Director, BBC Young Reporter

"Diversity in our newsrooms is a top priority for us. We want to ensure that a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds are represented and that journalism is accessible as a profession to everyone,” - Katie Lloyd, Development Director and Director, BBC Young Reporter

HOW IT WORKS
If you have questions about how the Scheme works - please watch the webinar below

  • Students of BJTC-accredited courses who meet the criteria fill in the application form provided by their course leader by 5pm on 21st February.
  • The course leader will confirm the applicant is a student on the course.
  • In March the applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will be considered by the PAS panel, determining which of the applicants will most benefit from the funds available. Funds are limited, and may not be sufficient for all applicants. It is up to the panel’s discretion as to which applicants will be successful.
  • The applicants will be informed of the panel’s decision by mid-March 2025.
  • Successful applicants will receive the funding when they have forwarded to the BJTC proof of a formal offer for their upcoming placement.
  • The placement needs to have been completed before the end of the applicant's course.
  • If the placement does not happen, the BJTC may require the money to be refunded.

WHAT IS A PLACEMENT?

Placements must be at a professional media organisation where a student receives supervision and feedback from people with appropriate, relevant industry experience.

"It is important that every aspiring journalist has the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and to make their mark. We hope the scheme will help to expand the pool of talent we see coming into our newsrooms and, indeed, into the wider television industry,” - Editor of ITV Regional News Guy Phillips

"It is important that every aspiring journalist has the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and to make their mark. We hope the scheme will help to expand the pool of talent we see coming into our newsrooms and, indeed, into the wider television industry,” - Editor of ITV Regional News Guy Phillips

WHAT TO DO NOW

If you are eligible to apply for the funding, request the link to the application form from your course leader. 

If you receive a student loan or maintenance grant, ensure you have the paperwork indicating how much support you are receiving. If you have any other evidence to support the criteria, have that ready. The panel may ask you for it.

Follow the BJTC on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all information relating to the Scheme.

HOW THE PANEL DECIDES WHO RECEIVES THE FUNDING

The PAS panel’s primary goal is to ensure the funds set aside for the Scheme go to those who most require financial support to take up placements. To assist us in making that decision, we apply the guidance of The Sutton Trust.

The following criteria are essential:

  • • In the final two years of a BJTC-accredited undergraduate course or undertaking a BJTC-accredited postgraduate course
    • Attended a state-funded school or college or a fee-paying school with the assistance of a scholarship (If you do not meet this criterion but you can supply details of extenuating circumstances that demonstrate financial hardship, we may still be able to support you)
  • • Has not previously received funding from this scheme
  •  

The more of the following criteria the applicant meets, the more likely they are to be successful:

  • • The first generation in their family to go to university
  • • Eligible for free school meals
  • • Accommodated or in care

Applicants will then have an opportunity to explain how the funding will assist them during their placements. 

They will also be asked to provide information relating to any maintenance grants or student loans they receive. This will assist the panel in determining their financial status. Applicants may be asked to provide supporting evidence in relation to any of their responses.

The panel members will then meet to assess the applications. The number of successful applicants will depend upon the amount of funding available and this may change from year to year. It is unlikely there will be sufficient funds to meet all of those requesting support. Guided by the Sutton Trust’s suggested criteria, it will be up to the panel’s discretion as to which applicants will be successful. 

If applicants are successful, they will not be eligible for further PAS funding at any other time during their course.